Electric shaver with vibrating head

Abstract

A hair cutting apparatus comprising: an elongate element ( 260 ) heated to a temperature capable of cutting hair; a vibrating structure ( 200 ), on which said elongate element ( 260 ) is mounted; and a housing ( 106 ) in which the vibrating structure ( 200 ) is mounted.

1. A hair cutting apparatus comprising:
 a structure, a portion of which is adapted for placement against a skin surface in an area where hair is to be cut; 
 an elongate element heated to a temperature capable of cutting hair at least a portion of the elongate element being juxtaposed with said portion; 
 a vibrating structure, on which said elongate element is mounted such that the elongate element does not bum the skin surface; and 
 a housing in which the vibrating structure is mounted. 
 
   
   
     2. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein vibrations of the vibrating structure causes the heat-generating element to pass two or more times over hair as the apparatus is moved slowly along a hair containing area of the skin. 
   
   
     3. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate element is mounted between two posts separated by a distance, one or both of the posts comprising a resilient material, adapted to tension the elongate element. 
   
   
     4. Apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein each post is relatively flexible in response to force applied in a first direction, and relatively non-flexible in response to force applied in a second direction. 
   
   
     5. Apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the posts comprises a guideway against which at least a portion of the elongate element is mounted. 
   
   
     6. Apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the posts are electrically conductive. 
   
   
     7. Apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the elongate element is connected to the posts. 
   
   
     8. Apparatus according to  claim 6 , including electrically conductive sockets on the structure adapted to receive the posts. 
   
   
     9. Apparatus according to  claim 3 , and including two or more post stabilizers, which limit the movement of the posts with respect to the housing in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the elongate element. 
   
   
     10. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , and including an eccentric rotating weight that causes the structure to vibrate as the weight rotates. 
   
   
     11. Apparatus according to  claim 1  and including a motion detector that turns the vibrating structure on or off in response to movement of the elongate element along the area. 
   
   
     12. Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the heated element is a wire. 
   
   
     13. Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is a hand held apparatus adapted to be pressed against the skin of a user and cut hair on said skin at or near the surface of the skin. 
   
   
     14. A method of cutting hair from an area of skin with a vibrating heat-generating element comprising:
 a) heating an elongate element to a temperature high enough to cut the hair; 
 b) placing the heated elongate element against the area; and 
 c) vibrating the element in a direction perpendicular to a long axis thereof, so that it makes multiple passes over the area during the placing. 
 
   
   
     15. A method according to  claim 14  further comprising collecting the cut hair. 
   
   
     16. A method according to  claim 15  including moving the cut hair into a receptacle. 
   
   
     17. A method according to  claim 14  wherein the elongate element is a wire. 
   
   
     18. A method according to  claim 14  and including moving the elongate element along the surface of the skin of an area from which hair is to be removed by hand. 
   
   
     19. Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the elongate element contacts the skin. 
   
   
     20. A hair cutting apparatus comprising:
 an elongate element heated to a temperature capable of cutting hair; 
 a vibrating structure, on which said elongate element is mounted such that the elongate element does not burn the skin surface; 
 a housing in which the vibrating structure is mounted; and 
 a motion detector that turns the vibrating structure on or off in response to movement of the elongate element along the area. 
 
   
   
     21. Apparatus according to  claim 20 , and including an eccentric rotating weight that causes the structure to vibrate as the weight rotates. 
   
   
     22. Apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the motion detector turns the vibrating structure on and off in response to a minimum speed. 
   
   
     23. Apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the motion detector provides an indication of speed in excess of a given value. 
   
   
     24. Apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the indication comprises a visual indication. 
   
   
     25. Apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the indication comprises a shutting off of the vibration. 
   
   
     26. Apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the motion detector additionally controls the generation of heat on the elongate element. 
   
   
     27. Apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the motion detector turns the heat generating element off in response to a measurement of a speed less than a predetermined speed. 
   
   
     28. Apparatus according to  claim 26 , wherein the motion detector turns the heat generating element off in response to a speed greater than a predetermined speed. 
   
   
     29. Apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the motion detector comprises at least one of:
 a) a mechanical motion detector; and 
 b) an optical motion detector. 
 
   
   
     30. Apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the heated element is a wire. 
   
   
     31. Apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the apparatus is a hand held apparatus adapted to be pressed against the skin of a user and cut hair on said skin at or near the surface of the skin.